Relay for block-signal systems.



L. A. HAWKI NS.

RELAY FOR BLOCK SIGNAL SYSTEMS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB-l9, 1908. RENEWED EAR. 4, 1908. 967,1 92, Patented Aug. 16, 1910.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LAURENCE A. HAWKINS, OF SCHENECTADY, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

RELAY FOR BLOCK-SIGNAL SYSTEMS.

Application filed February 19, 1906, Serial No. 301,725. Renewed March 4, 1908.

To all whom it may concern:

lie it known that I, LAURENCE A. ITIAW- KINS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Schenectady, in the county of Schenectady, State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Relays for Block-Signal Systems, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to track relays for block signal systems, and its object is to provide a novel, efficient and reliable form of three-position relay.

My invention is particularly applicable for use in systems of the type disclosed in my former application, Serial No. 217,212, filed July 19, 1904, in which track relays having operative positions on both sides of the ofi-position are employed for controlling signals giving three different indications.

The purpose of my present invention is to arrange a relay 01' this character so that it will have a positive off-position; thereby preventing the possibility of its swinging from one operative position to the other when the relay is de'energized.

More specifically stated, my invention consists in a relay comprising a movable contact member having operative positions on both sides of its oft-position, means operative upon the deenergizing of the relay for locking the member in oft-position, and means for releasing the member automatically when the relay is energized.

My invention will best be understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 shows diagrammatically a block signal system comprising track relays arranged in accordance with my invention; Fig. 2 shows an end elevation of the relay; Fig. 3 shows a plan view 01: the same; and Fig. 4 shows a side elevation.

In Fig. 1, R, R and It represent the rails of portions of three blocks of a block signal system. The home signal H and distant signal D are stationed at the entrance to the block R, and the signals H and D at the entrance to the block B. By employing home and distant two-position signals three distinct indications,-viz., danger, caution and clear may be given, but my invention is not limited to the use of separate home and distant signal-arms, but is equally applicable to the control of one-arm, threeposition, signals.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 16, 1910.

Serial No. 419,197.

b and 71 represent track batteries supplying the blocks R and R respectively. In my former application I showed a block signal system employing alternating-current, but since the kind of current employed is entirely immaterial as regards my present invention, I have indicated track batteries for the sake of simplicity. The track battery 7) is connected to the track circuit through a reversing switch S controlled by the operating mechanism 7b of the home signal H. This operating mechanism is merely indicated diagrammatically, since it forms no part of my invention and may be of any well-known type.

The operating mechanism for the distant signal D is indicated at cl.

B represents the source of current for the operating mechanism It and (Z.

The track relays are of the type shown in my earlier application, comprising two cooperating coils,one, A, connected to the track, and the other, a, which is shown as movable, supplied with current independently of the track circuit.

C represents a contact member carried by the movable coil a. With this type of relay, if either coil is de'e'nergized, the relay possesses no torque, and when current is flowing through both coils, the direction of torque depends upon the relative directions of current-flow in the two coils. Consequently, by supplying the two coils from separate circuits and reversing the currentflow in one circuit, the relay may be caused to assume a position on either side of offposition,

E represents a locking device which automatically locks the contact member in oftposition when the relay is deenergized, and

which automatically releases it when the relay is energized. The construction and arrangement of this locking device will be described hereafter.

The operation of the system, as above described, is as follows: With a train in the block R, as indicated in Fig. 1, the relay coil A connected to the track circuit is shortcircuited so that the relay has no torque and stands in ofi-position, to which it has been returned by gravity, and in which position it is locked by the locking member E. With the contact member C in oft-position, the circuits of both operating mechanisms h and d are broken so that signals H and D are both allowed to go to danger by gravity, thereby giving the danger indication. lVith the home signal H in danger position, the reversing switch S is in such a position that the direction of current-flow in the relay coil A bears the proper relation to the direction of [low through the coil a to cause the contact member U to move toward the right, as shown in the figure. Since the relay is energized, the locking member E is moved out of locking position. In this position of contact member C the circuit of the operating mechanism It is energized so that the home signal H is moved to clearposition, while the operating mechanism d is deenergized so that the distant signal D is at danger, thereby indicating caution. lVhen the train moves out of the block It the relay coil A will he energized and the contact member C will move to the right, thereby putting home signal H at clear. This movement of the home signal reverses the direction of current-flow in the track circuit of R, thereby reversing the torque in the track relay connected to that block. Contact member U will, consequently, move to the left, closing the circuit of both operating mechanisms it and (Z, so that both signals H and D will be moved to clear, thereby giving clear indication. If the locking devices were not employed on the track relays, it is evident that the off-position of the track relays would not be so positive as in the case of a two-position relay where the contact member rests against a stop in oft-position. Consequently, under some circumstances, especially where spring contacts are employed, the contact member might move from one operative position over to the other when the relay is deenergized, so as momentarily to close the circuits controlled in that other position.

My present invention consists in providing suitable locking means for giving the relay a positive off-position, and at the same time leaving it free to move to either operative position when the relay is energized. The construction of the relay is shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4:. In these figures the coils A are shown mounted on a rectangular core, between the poles of which the movable coil 64 is carried on a pivot a, which also carries the contact member C adapted to engage the stationary contacts 0 on either side of the mid-position. For direct-current work the coil 64 may be omitted and a permanent magnet employed ior the movable armature. For alternating-current work the relay should be laminated, as indicated.

E represents the locking member, which is carried on a pivot c. lVhen the relay is deenergized, this locking member assumes the position shown in Figs. 2 and t, in which position it is adapted to engage the tongue f projecting from the lower side of the inovable core. The engaging portion of the member E is forked, the prongs of the fork being just outside oi the path of movement oi? the tip of the tongue j, as indicated by the dotted line in Fig. 2. Just inside of the prongs are light leail springs e, which prw iect across the path ol movement of the tip of the tongue f. The purpose of this arrangement is to enable the relay armature to return to oit-position from either operative position, but to prevent its movement from oit' position, as long the locking member is in the position shown. When the tongue f is moving from either operative position to mid-position, it engages the end of: one of the light leaf springs c. This spring, since it is not supported on its inner side, bends easily, allowing the tongue f to pass. As the motion of the tongue continues until it, strikes the inner side of the other leaf spring, it will be stopped thereby, since the other spring is supported on its outer side by the rigid prong of the member E. The small portion of the leaf spring that projects beyond the prong is not long enough to bend sutlicicntly to allow the tongue 1 to pass. Consequently, this construction allows the relay to move freely from either operative position to oft-position, regardless oi the position of the locking member E, but prevents the movement of the relay from cit-position as long as the locking member is in looking posit-ion.

The locking member E carries the armature G of magnetic material, which acts both as a weight to hold the member E in locking position as long as the relay is deenergized, and also as a means of moving the locking member from looking position when the relay is energized. This armature G extends into a gap in the magnetic core of the track coils r-r, so that when the track coils of the relay are energized the armature G is drawn upward against a stop 9, thereby moving the locking member out of engagement with the movable armature.

While I have shown the locking member controlled by the flux of the relay itself, this is not essential to my invention. Any other suitable arrangement may be employed for shifting the locking member when the relay is energized and deenergized. The construction of the relay may be altered, as desired, and the connections and relative positions of the coils may be varied. Accordingly, I do not desire to limit myself to the particular construction and arrangement of parts here shown, but aim in the appended claims to cover all modifications which are within the scope of my invention.

.Vhat I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent ot the United States, is:

1. In a relay, a movable contact member having operative positions on both sides of its ofi-position, means operative upon the deenergizing of said relay for locking said member in off-position, and means for unlocking said member automatically when said relay is energized.

2. In a relay, a movable contact member having operative positions on both sides of its oif-position, means for locking said memher in off-position, and means for rendering the locking means inoperative when the relay is energized.

In a relay, a movable contact member having operative positions on both sides of its off-position, means for locking said member in oil-position, and means controlled by the current in the relay for rendering the locking means inoperative when the relay is energized.

at. In a relay, a movable contact member having operative positions on both sides of its ofi-position and adapted to return by gravity to ofi' position when the relay is deenergized, and means for stopping said member in off-position when returned thereto by gravity.

5. In a relay, a movable contact member having operative positions on both sides of its olf-position, means for engaging said member to hold it in off-position, and means for moving said holding means out of engagement with said member when the relay is energized.

6. In a relay, a movable contact member having operative positions on both sides of its off-position and adapted to return by gravity to elf-position when the relay is deenergized, and a locking member controlled by the current in the relay and movable by gravity to engage and lock said contact member in ofi position.

7. In a relay, a movable contact member having operative positions on both sides of its oif-position and adapted to return by gravity to oil-position when the relay is deenergized, a movable locking member adapted to engage and lock said contact member in off-position, and an armature operatively connected to said locking member and adapted to be attracted by the flux in said relay to move said locking member from locking position.

8. In a relay, a movable contact member having operative positions on both sides of its off-position, two electrically independent windings cooperating to move said member, means operative upon the deenergizing of one of said windings for locking said contact member in oil-position, and means for unlocking said member automatically when said winding is energized.

9. In a relay, a movable contact member having operative positions on both sides of its ofl'position, two electrically independent windings cooperating to move said member, one of said windings being carried on the movable member, means operative upon the deenergizing of one of said windings for locking said contact member in ofi-position, and means for unlocking said member automatically when the last mentioned winding is energized.

10. In a relay, a movable contact member having operative positions on both sides of its ofi-position, means for locking said member in off-position arranged to permit the return of said member from either operative position to off-position but to prevent its movement from off-position, and means for rendering said locking means inoperative when the relay is energized.

11. In a relay, a movable contact member having operative positions on both sides of its off-position, means for locking said member in off-position arranged to permit the return of said member from either operative position to off-position but to prevent its movement from off-position, and electromagnetic controlling means for said locking means.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 16th day of February, 1906.

LAURENCE A. HAIVKINS.

Witnesses BENJAMIN B. HULL, HELEN Onronn. 

